worship

verb

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wor·ship | \ ˈwər-shəp

also ˈwȯr- \

worshipped also worshiped; worshipping also worshiping

Definition of worship

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power

2 : to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion a celebrity worshipped by her fans

intransitive verb

: to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship

worship

noun

Definition of worship (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power also : an act of expressing such reverence

2 : a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual

3 : extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem worship of the dollar

4 chiefly British : a person of importance —used as a title for various officials (such as magistrates and some mayors)

Other Words from worship Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about worship

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Choose the Right Synonym for worship

Verb

revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling. a professor revered by her students reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring. reverenced the academy's code of honor venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age. heroes still venerated worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony. worships their memory adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment. we adored our doctor

Examples of worship in a Sentence

Verb Many ancient cultures worshipped the sun and moon. They worship at this temple. I worship God in my own way. Noun worship of gods and goddesses Worship services are held daily. the media's worship of celebrities

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Officials asked that people worship at outdoor services or via a streaming service. — Fox News, "L.A. County health officials: Don’t attend indoor church services no matter what judge says," 25 Dec. 2020 Horizon Christian Fellowship will hold outdoor Christmas Eve worship services at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 24 at 6365 El Apajo Road. — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Christmas services across North County 2020," 18 Dec. 2020 This year’s acrimonious campaign exacerbated those tensions, as did debates over how to worship during the pandemic and respond to protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in police custody. — WSJ, "Abortion, Guns and Trump: A Church Group Tries to Navigate America’s Divisions," 18 Dec. 2020 The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Nevada church protesting Gov. Steve Sisolak's coronavirus worship restrictions. — Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, "Supreme Court rejects Nevada church protesting coronavirus worship restrictions," 25 Jan. 2021 Some Trump followers also are influenced by QAnon, a tangle of conspiracy theories mixing allegations of pedophilia, Democrats and Satan worship. — Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, "How conservative media stoked baseless election-fraud claims that motivated D.C. rioters," 12 Jan. 2021 While one church’s members worship from cars outside, Kenneth Copeland hosts thousands in an arena. — Dave Lieber, Dallas News, "From a near riot to the biggest hack of Texans’ information, 2020 was filled with wins and losses," 24 Dec. 2020 Since Mass resumed in June, the Archdiocese has demonstrated that people can worship God in a safe, responsible, and cooperative way. — Jerry Dunleavy, Washington Examiner, "Catholic Church sues DC mayor over 'illegal' coronavirus restrictions as Christmas approaches," 11 Dec. 2020 Readers were encouraged to study scripture readings or Sunday school lessons, or worship alone or with family. — Kristen Rogers, CNN, "For churchgoers during the Covid-19 pandemic, a deadly lesson from the 1918 flu," 3 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But even with the favorable court decision opening places of worship, there’s little optimism parishioners will return soon. — Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, "S.F.'s historic Old St. Mary's Cathedral at 'very edge of survival,' battered by the pandemic," 12 Feb. 2021 After the war, by the late 1860s, Blacks were abandoning the segregated slave pews of other houses of worship, as the film notes. — oregonlive, "Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the impact of ‘The Black Church’ in absorbing PBS documentary," 11 Feb. 2021 For the painter Angel Otero, a former place of worship in upstate New York is a sanctuary in which to live and work. — New York Times, "The 19th-Century Church One Artist Calls Home," 11 Feb. 2021 Restaurants and places of worship will be able to operate outdoors, and many stores will be able to have more shoppers inside. — Arkansas Online, "States lift restrictions gradually amid fears of new variant," 28 Jan. 2021 Restaurants and places of worship will be able to operate outdoors, and many stores will be able to have more shoppers inside. — Arkansas Online, "States lift restrictions gradually amid fears of new variant," 28 Jan. 2021 The common guidelines—which were not legally binding—outlined how localities should mitigate the spread of the virus in businesses, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, places of worship, and other social settings. — Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, "Biden’s Pandemic Plan Might Just Work," 27 Jan. 2021 Restaurants and places of worship will be able to operate outdoors, and many stores will be able to have more shoppers inside. — David Eggert And Don Babwin, Star Tribune, "States lift restrictions gradually amid fears of new variant," 27 Jan. 2021 The letter asks Biden to direct Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to exercise their prosecutorial discretion to grant stays of removal for each of the 40 people living in houses of worship nationwide. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "Markey, Warren, and Castro lead Democrats urging Biden to protect immigrant families living in churches," 26 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worship.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for worship

Verb

Middle English worþschipen, worschepen, worshippen "to hold in honor, esteem, show respect for, revere (a deity), conduct religious rites," derivative of wurðscip, worschip "honor, esteem, religious faith, rank, value" — more at worship entry 2

Noun

Middle English wurðscip, worschip "honor, esteem, renown, veneration, religious faith, a person's social standing, rank, value," going back to Old English weorþscipe, wurþscipe "honor, esteem, veneration, dignity," from weorþ, wyrþ, as noun "value" and as adjective "valuable, having status, deserving" + -scipe -ship — more at worth entry 1, worth entry 3

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Dictionary Entries near worship

worship at the altar of

worshipful

Statistics for worship

Last Updated

19 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Worship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worship. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for worship

worship

verb

English Language Learners Definition of worship

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to honor or respect (someone or something) as a god

: to show respect and love for God or for a god especially by praying, having religious services, etc.

: to love or honor (someone or something) very much or too much

worship

noun

English Language Learners Definition of worship (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god : the act of worshipping God or a god

: excessive admiration for someone

British —used as a title when addressing or referring to certain officials (such as mayors and magistrates) —used with his, her, your, or their

See the full definition for worship in the English Language Learners Dictionary

worship

noun

wor·ship | \ ˈwər-shəp